African Americans have been a part of the American stage dating back to the 1700s, though little of this has been recorded. Black performance came as early as 1664, performing shows on the slave ships to entertain whites. The first plays about Afro-Americans on the stage came along in 1769 and were stereotypical, poor depictions. The Minstrels – or blackface – followed in the 1840’s. As the turn of the century hit, A Trip to Coontown broke this tradition. Black musicals began to open one after another, and came the Harlem Renaissance, when theatres and night life flourished. Many of the taboos and restraints vanished, blacks felt free to be on the stage. By the end of the twenties, new theatre groups had been organized. These groups felt they could identify better with their own communities. Black audiences were still disallowed from the downtown theatres. Then the Depression hit, the wave of protest strongly affected several white playwrights who saw blacks in relation to the American life. And while the thirties started off well for Blacks, between 1935-1940, theatres closed around the country and black artists were the hardest hit. Through the 60’s-70’s, they saw much change. Now, while in the last 10 years many black artists have been recognized, the art form still has far to go to keep itself alive.
African Americans have been a part of the American stage dating back to the 1700s, though little of this has been recorded. Black performance came as early as 1664, performing shows on the slave ships to entertain whites. The first plays about Afro-Americans on the stage came along in 1769 and were stereotypical, poor depictions. The Minstrels – or blackface – followed in the 1840’s. As the turn of the century hit, A Trip to Coontown broke this tradition. Black musicals began to open one after another, and came the Harlem Renaissance, when theatres and night life flourished. Many of the taboos and restraints vanished, blacks felt free to be on the stage. By the end of the twenties, new theatre groups had been organized. These groups felt they could identify better with their own communities. Black audiences were still disallowed from the downtown theatres. Then the Depression hit, the wave of protest strongly affected several white playwrights who saw blacks in relation to the American life. And while the thirties started off well for Blacks, between 1935-1940, theatres closed around the country and black artists were the hardest hit. Through the 60’s-70’s, they saw much change. Now, while in the last 10 years many black artists have been recognized, the art form still has far to go to keep itself alive.